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Monday, March 31, 2014

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

1. Drive a bookmobile around and give away books.
2. Go on book pilgrimages.
3. Visit beautiful independent bookstores in the world.
4. Visit beautiful libraries in the world.
5. Read all 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
6. Read all the best books for grownups, too.
7. Live in a book-ish place.
8. Work for a publisher and promote books at librarian conferences.
9. Attend author parties.
10. Write a book.
11?

Any of these sound good to you? Want to join me for any? Do you have any other great book-ish ideas on your bucket list that I should borrow?

Add another title to my list of favorite Books About Books. Phyllis Rose (almost) randomly selects a shelf in her library with the goal of reading...moreAdd another title to my list of favorite Books About Books. Phyllis Rose (almost) randomly selects a shelf in her library with the goal of reading (almost) every book on it. Thankfully, she doesn’t choose a completely random shelf; wouldn’t it be awful if she chose a shelf composed of a single, terrible author?! Thankfully, she doesn’t assign herself to read every book on the shelf; wouldn’t it be awful if she had to read every book of an author rather than choosing a sizable sample?!

Her experiment is a nice combination of randomness and choice and all ends well. Rose drifts where the books take her and continues off the path each time, taking us, her readers, on a lovely walk through book countries few of us have ever and will never visit. Yes, a great read for those of us who love Books About Books.

Lane is a masterful dancer. She leads off with a chapter in which it is clear that things in the lives of the Campbell family are a mess. Then she lea...moreLane is a masterful dancer. She leads off with a chapter in which it is clear that things in the lives of the Campbell family are a mess. Then she leads us back, to slowly explore how things fell apart, giving each character time to step to the front of the stage and tell her tale. It is a beautiful dance of a book.

The Mishras can envision nothing better than America from their hovel in India. Somehow, the family makes its way to America, but the real America tur...moreThe Mishras can envision nothing better than America from their hovel in India. Somehow, the family makes its way to America, but the real America turns out to be very different from their dreams. And there is no turning back; instead the family must find a way to make a good face for the struggles and tragedies that America brings.

Their mother is dead and Olivia knows she must head out to the setting of her mother's longtime work-in-progress story, and, of course, her sisterJazz...moreTheir mother is dead and Olivia knows she must head out to the setting of her mother's longtime work-in-progress story, and, of course, her sisterJazz must come, too. There's a tattooed man and a drinking dad and a few other damaged people the two equally damaged sisters meet along the way. It makes for a satisfying story, I think.

It's not a brand-new story (think Fannie Flagg) but it is a story worth hearing again. Man cheats on wife. Wife seeks revenge. Great setting (c'mon, w...moreIt's not a brand-new story (think Fannie Flagg) but it is a story worth hearing again. Man cheats on wife. Wife seeks revenge. Great setting (c'mon, who doesn't love a Texas tale?!) and fun characters. Yes, take this one along on your next long plane ride. You won't regret it.

Good, old-fashioned, country storytelling that is really hard to find anymore. There is something, even in this day of Internet and gaming and social...moreGood, old-fashioned, country storytelling that is really hard to find anymore. There is something, even in this day of Internet and gaming and social media that is still very compelling about storytelling. So try this one. It's good.

Expected too much from this one. Go into it expecting a few odd stories and a couple of insights into modern love and you will walk away satisfied, I...moreExpected too much from this one. Go into it expecting a few odd stories and a couple of insights into modern love and you will walk away satisfied, I think.

There are a few easy ways to tell if a person loves a story. Sometimes the reader will want to read the book again. Sometimes the reader will tell oth...moreThere are a few easy ways to tell if a person loves a story. Sometimes the reader will want to read the book again. Sometimes the reader will tell others about the story. Sometimes the reader will head online or to the library to find other books by the same author or on the same subject. Sometimes the reader will pass the book on to others.

I wanted to do all these things with this book. If you like historical fiction, if you like to read stories with strong emotional content, if you like characters who stay with you, then read this book.(less)

Is she Esther? Her new family tells her she is. Or is she Kirby? That’s the name and the identity she has grown up with. Who is she, really...moreIs she Esther? Her new family tells her she is. Or is she Kirby? That’s the name and the identity she has grown up with. Who is she, really?

Kirby’s mother disappears and Kirby is sent to live with her uncle and his family. The family is part of a dogmatic fundamentalist religious group. Men make all decisions. There are no tvs, no movies, and no books. Women must marry at sixteen and must dress in clothing that conceals. Rules, rules, rules. But there are also the consolations of strong, supportive family ties and of prayer.

Kirby is confused. She desperately wants to leave; at the same time, she desperately loves this new family. And where is her mother?

A well-written, thoughtful book with a serious look at the difficulties and strengths of following the dictates of a group.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.